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Council presses county to prioritize Burnt Store Road widening after staff cites $189M estimate for remaining segment
Summary
Council members on Oct. 29 urged Lee County to move faster on the remaining widening of Burnt Store Road, an evacuation route serving Cape Coral and other communities. Staff reported earlier segments cost about $65.7 million; the remaining PD&E estimate for the final segment is about $189 million. Council requested a joint meeting with county
Cape Coral council members on Oct. 29 renewed calls for Lee County to accelerate completion of Burnt Store Road after staff briefed the council on a wide gap between previously completed segments and the county’s current schedule and estimates.
The city manager reviewed project history: three earlier segments of Burnt Store Road were built (about 4.7 miles collectively) at a combined cost of about $65.7 million. Staff said the remaining segment—roughly five miles per the presentation—carries a program development and environmental (PD&E) estimate of about $189 million. The city manager and several council members framed the roadway as a hurricane evacuation route and stressed public‑safety urgency.
"This project is a priority. We need to complete it. It's an evacuation route," Mayor Gunter said, urging the county to prioritize funding and project delivery.
Council members, several of whom represent the city on the Metropolitan Planning Organization, said the county has not prioritized the road despite safety concerns and a long PD&E timeline. One council member said design work is not expected to be complete until 2030 and pushed back on the idea the city should carry funding burdens for a county road. Another council member urged a diplomatic—but firm—approach: the city should demand the county reprioritize its slate of projects and consider federal/state assistance for a project with evacuation implications.
Council directed the city manager to schedule a joint meeting with county leadership to press for a revised timeline and to explore funding options; several members said they would oppose using city mobility fees to pay for a county roadway. Members expressed willingness to press for federal or state funding and a clearer county schedule rather than immediately committing city funds.
Ending: Council asked staff to pursue a joint city‑county meeting and to prepare materials on the project’s timeline, funding history and options, including federal/state grant opportunities and a breakdown of recent toll revenue and county general‑fund contributions, ahead of the intergovernmental discussion.
